SHILLONG, Oct 7: Condemning Thursday’s “excessive” use of force by the police on protesting contractual teachers who lost their jobs, the Voice of the People Party had asked Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui to step down but he on Friday said he is not going to give in to the demand.
“I will not resign, as whatever happens is not because of what I am doing. Why should I resign?” the minister asked.
The police action on the unarmed LP school teachers, who were demanding reinstatement, made a section of the workers of his United Democratic Party to urge party president Metbah Lyngdoh to get the minister dropped from the Cabinet.
Asked about it, Rymbui said, “I don’t know but I am here not to quit.”
He replied in the negative when asked if he has been made the sacrificial lamb by the party and the government.
“We are working collectively as the government to solve issues concerning the state. We solve whatever we can. If there is something we cannot solve, we say it bluntly,” Rymbui said.
Civil society organisations, political parties and others had criticised the police for using excessive force and allegedly manhandling the teachers.
The cops had fired tear gas shells on the teachers when they were taking out a march to the Secretariat to push for reinstatement.
Govt seeks report on police action
Rymbui on Friday said the government sought a report on the police action.
“The Home department is seeking a report from the district administration. It will help us to know what exactly happened yesterday,” he said.
According to him, Section 144 of the CrPC is imposed in the area and permission to take out the march was not granted. He said due process of law will follow in the case.
He said the law-enforcement agencies must ensure that any intervention they make does not cause unnecessary difficulties to anybody.
On the Opposition’s charge that the government ill-treated the teachers, Rymbui said, “There is no question of mistreating the teachers. From day one, we have made it amply clear that we have to follow the mandatory norms set up by the regulatory authority.”
“The government extended the age limit, gave time and a chance to appear and re-appear for the exams, so the question of mistreating them does not arise at all,” Rymbui said.
On the absence of women police personnel during Thursday’s incident, he said since the district administration had not given permission for the rally, the teachers were not expected to violate the orders.
